Month: November 2009

Cedar Cottage Garden is expanding to include the “Triangle”. Cedar Cottage Garden Society (CCGS) applied and was granted the property located on the NE corner of Victoria and Stainsbury for a new community garden to develop and manage!

City Council issued the 2010 Challenge to individuals, families, community groups and neighbourhood organizations in 2006 to help establish more food-producing gardens in the city. The City sees community gardens and other forms of urban agriculture as important neighbourhood gathering places that promote sustainability, neighbourhood liveability, urban greening, community building, social interaction, crime reduction, exercise and food production.

The “Triangle,” as it is fondly called, at Victoria and Stainsbury, is a wonderful opportunity for the community. It will extend the current Cedar Cottage Garden beyond the sites under the skytrain tracks and provide garden space to between 30-40 more people in the area.

Cedar Cottage Garden has been active since March of 2008. In this short time they have grown to 61 plots and 64 members; had several events, open stages and work parties; built an historically inspired garden shed and created a neighbourhood destination marked by the big red “A” at Hull Street and Victoria Drive (close to 20th Avenue). Membership is $20.00.

Would you like a garden plot?

CCGS is accepting applications from new community gardeners. If you are interested in having a garden plot and becoming a member of this dynamic community group please get in contact Erin by email with the subject heading: Triangle Plot. The email address is tlccfoodsecurity@gmail.com.

The Grandview Woodland Food Connection proudly supports the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project. As an advisory member to the VFTP I am trying to help this organization build its long-term organizational sustainability. In turn, their success can support my work in Grandview Woodlands since the Britannia child-care program is a VFTP recipient of fruit.

This volunteer based organization picks fruit from trees in people’s backyards that the owners do not want and this fruit is then distributed to non-profit organizations in the community with food programs. It is a great idea.

This was the Project’s best season yet. They did 78 picks, totaling 7300 pounds of donated fruit. Due to the amount of fruit picked the organization has been able to expand the number of receiving organizations.

Here are a few ways that you can support the Vancouver Fruit Tree Project:

1.Buy your coffee or tea through Blenz! VFTP is now part of the Blenz Cares program – for example, for every bag of coffee you buy online we get $7! Order by clicking on the Blenz Cares button on the VFTP website– http://www.vancouverfruittree.com

2. Invest in a fabulous VFTP t-shirt or cloth shopping bag! We’ve got plain white t’s with the green logo on the front, and we’ve got white t’s with green piping on the neck & sleeves. The bags are a natural fibre-looking colour, also with the green logo. T-shirts are $10 and bags are $5. Email info@vancouverfruittree.com to order your’s today!

3. Donations in lieu of winter holiday presents!Don’t forget, you can avoid those cheezy, tacky gifts from Great Aunt Martha by having them go online & make a charitable donation to us through Canada Helps in your name instead. There’s a link on our website on the “get involved” page.

4. Visit or sit a spell at our booth at the Britannia Christmas Craft Fair!This year it runs Nov. 20th to 22nd at Britannia Community Centre’s Gyms A and B. We’ll need volunteers to “person” the booth for 2, 3 or 4 hour slots during these times:

Friday, November 20th (3:00 pm–8:00 pm)

Saturday, November 21st (10:00 am–5:00 pm)

Sunday, November 22nd (10:00 am–5:00 pm)

Please call Erin at 604-872-5591 or email erin@vancouverfruittree.com if you’ve got some time to sit & help sell some dried fruit!

5. Get involved with our advisory group! We meet once a month to plan the next season & re-hash the last one to see where we can improve. We brainstorm on where to get money and ladders and stuff, we plan parties and we eat and laugh. Email info@vancouverfruittree.com for more info.